CIF-SS Open Division Playoffs: Win and In

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the CIF Southern Section playoffs inching closer to championship games, we wanted to take a quick moment to reset the possible outcomes of the Open Division pool play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Pool B representative is set as Roosevelt sits at 2-0 after wins over St. Pius and JSerra who are both at 1-1. The Mustangs will be in the Open Division title game regardless of the outcome of their game against Mater Dei tonight. St. Pius, JSerra and Mater Dei are playing for seeding in either the State Open Division field or the State Division 1 field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The biggest game on the slate tonight is a win and your in game between Harvard-Westlake and St. John Bosco in Pool A. The Wolverines sit at 2-0 with wins over Sierra Canyon and Corona Centennial and with a win over the Braves tonight will clinch a spot in the championship game next Friday at Cal Baptist University. The Braves are 1-1 in the pool and would advance to the title game with a head-to-head win over the Wolverines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">How Harvard-Westlake Wins</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Obviously the Wolverines have been doing something right to get to the point of being the top-ranked team in the state with a chance to get to the Open Division final and simply need to continue to do what they do best and that's play unselfish, team basketball with quality offensive possessions and a stifling defensive game plan they are sure to have ready. The key to beating Bosco is slowing down at least two of the four Division 1-bound guards/wings on its roster. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2131779' first='Brandon' last='McCoy'], juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1630620' first='Elzie' last='Harrington'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1630622' first='Kade' last='Bonam'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='1502781' first='Jack' last='Turner'] are responsible for the majority of the scoring for the Braves and, if you can force them into difficult looks and secure the defensive boards, that's a good place to start.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">How St. John Bosco Wins</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make Harvard-Westlake uncomfortable. The Wolverines are at their best when their offense is flowing both in transition and half-court settings. [player_tooltip player_id='1502769' first='Trent' last='Perry'] is the catalyst. His ability to control tempo, make the right decisions and score in bunches makes it difficult for opponents to scheme against, so you have to try to get him out of rhythm a bit by using a longer, more athletic wing defender to try to speed him up but that is easier said than done. Another way that Bosco could pull off an upset and earn a trip to the championship game would be to make the fringe guys beat them. Like the Braves, Harvard-Westlake has a "Big 3" of its own with Perry, [player_tooltip player_id='1630618' first='Nik' last='Khamenia'] and Rob Hinton, but after those three the scoring punch takes a dip. The goal should be to force those three to be playmakers for the role guys and challenge them to step up and make big plays and shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->